The country is witnessing a rare celestial event, annular solar eclipse today. The annular ‘ring of fire’ solar eclipse, wherein the Sun appears like a ring of fire, is visible in different parts of the country. This solar eclipse coincides with the summer solstice, when the Northern Hemisphere has the longest day.

The solar eclipse is taking place on the summer solstice, which is the longest day in the Northern Hemisphere.

Our  correspondent reports that this rare celestial event occurs, when Moon comes between the Sun and Earth and the shadow falls on the surface of the Earth.

The Sun is entirely covered by the Moon for a brief period. Those places that are engulfed by the dark, dense umbral shadow of the Moon experience the total solar eclipse. In all solar eclipse the Sun, Moon and Earth may not be perfectly aligned, and then there is a partial eclipse. When the three celestial bodies happen to be in a straight line, people witness a Total solar eclipse.

People in different places of Rajasthan, Haryana and Uttarakhand are able to see the annular phase and people in rest of the country are witnessing a partial eclipse. Ministry of Science and Technology has urged people not to use sunglasses, goggles, exposed x-ray sheet or lampblack over a glass as they are not safe. It said, viewing the Sun’s image on the surface of the water is also not safe. The Ministry said, welders glass 13 or 14 can be used to see the Sun directly with naked eyes.